2009-11-29, 20:09 | Link #301 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Of the 3 huge bookstores, Fujimi has been running the longest. Of the 25 years, only 5 Taishou has been awarded and the most recent one is from this year as well. In terms of rarity, this would be rarer than the Sneakers, but the attention 神さまのいない日曜日 gets is a lot less than Sugar Dark because Sugar Dark has the Haruhi influence. Promising an anime on top of that would definitely boost sales. I must say I am anticipating Sugar Dark because of these circumstances as well. |
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2009-11-29, 21:13 | Link #302 | |
The Owl of Minerva
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Coincidentally the descriptions of "Sugar Dark" and "Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi" are very similar with each other . They almost seem like the same story written from different perspectives (the heroine or the hero). Try to guess which is which. Spoiler:
Spoiler:
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Last edited by Doraneko; 2009-11-29 at 21:26. Reason: For no reason at all I romanized 神さまのいない日曜日 as "Kamisama no Inai Sekai"... orz |
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2009-11-30, 05:28 | Link #303 | |
Pedestrian
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sweden
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I'll still have to check out Soukyuu no Karma and Tasogare-iro no Uta-tsukai, because I am stupid and can't help buying things on lists. Edit: Didn't notice there was a new page! This is ridiculous. Since when did grave keeping get so popular?
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2009-11-30, 21:26 | Link #304 |
The Owl of Minerva
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Even the most ridiculous thing can become popular when corporate giants boot up their viral marketing machines . You can also expect some copycats if the two books turn out to be successful in terms of sales.
Still I am not sure how the two writers got their ideas... Btw I wonder if anyone is interested in the lineup of Dengeki's new MediaWorks Bunko? They have just released the cover arts and the books will be available in mid December. There are some big-name authors from the Dengeki franchise, and apparently they are trying to use some conventional, non-moe covers to appeal to the non-otaky public. I am just wondering if the book shops will treat them as conventional bunko books, or just put them in the light novel section. Spoiler:
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2009-11-30, 23:15 | Link #305 | |
Pedestrian
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sweden
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*looks up a third name* Wait a minute, I just spent an hour reading that exact author. Actually, there's a fourth I've got books by. Guess they do have a pretty big line-up. One day I'll start paying attention to people's names and not just the titles of their books. I think the only ones I would recognize are Nishio Ishin and Kougyoku Izuki. Um, and Yuyuko, I guess. Except I can never remember her surname. And Miyabe Miyuki, obviously.
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2009-11-30, 23:19 | Link #306 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Tasogare-iro no Uta-tsukai is depressing =( Seitokai no Ichizon's novel isn't that bad. Some parts are funny, other parts are slightly awkward. Then again, I always like novels that break the 4th wall so ... Don't know if you guys have read 嘘つきみーくんと壊れたまーちゃん, but this one is strangely interesting. Speaking of ranking, there's a post here http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost...1&postcount=67 , and I will list the author ranking below. Spoiler for author ranking:
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2009-12-01, 22:13 | Link #307 | |
The Owl of Minerva
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Sugar Dark arrived yesterday ! The golden strip around the book looks really nice. But too bad that there is no first edition gifts for online orders.
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On a sidenote, here are the award-winning works of the Dengeki Novel Competition. They will be released in February next year, according to the Dengeki email newsletter. Spoiler:
But what surprised me is the description for the coming book of 俺の妹... It was nothing like a Toaru-index style magical fantasy when I read it last time... I don't mind to see 黒猫 to inherit some of her power and characteristics in ねこシス, but certainly not to this extent. Spoiler:
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Last edited by Doraneko; 2009-12-01 at 22:25. |
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2009-12-02, 16:57 | Link #309 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Though you probably will not miss Takemiya's new works because how successful Toradora! is. |
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2009-12-03, 01:08 | Link #310 | |
The Owl of Minerva
Join Date: Apr 2006
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For general information and new releases of each light novel label, Ranobe-mori is a pretty good site. Of course you may also try the 2ch light novel board (which is usually the most updated source), if you don't mind the spam and crap also posted there. Pay attention to 電撃文庫・電撃文庫MAGAZINE総合スレッド and the 竹宮ゆゆこ thread. Spoiler for 竹宮ゆゆこ 105:
(Not exactly a new series, but at least it is something new from ゆゆぽ. Hopefully the full story will be published in bunko format next year .)
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Last edited by Doraneko; 2009-12-03 at 01:30. Reason: Added some quotes from 2ch |
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2009-12-08, 19:10 | Link #312 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Oricon's chart of top light novel sales of 2009 (2008/12/1 - 2009/11/30)
http://contents.oricon.co.jp/enterta...204_01_17.html Saiunkoku Monogatari wins. I'm glad Kino no Tabi's on there though =). |
2009-12-08, 22:14 | Link #313 | |
The Owl of Minerva
Join Date: Apr 2006
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I am surprised that Summer Wars got the second place though. Maybe I should pick up a copy after watching the movie. Other light novel sales rankings: くまざわ 1.おいしいコーヒーのいれ方 Second season 1 2.サマーウォーズ 3.彩雲国:黒蝶 4.彩雲国:黄粱 5.キノ12 6.グイン・サーガ123 7.グイン・サーガ124 8.グイン・サーガ125 9.グイン・サーガ126 10.MAJOR 2 とらのあな (a more otaku-centric bookshop) 1.とら9 2.とら10 3.俺妹2 4.禁書17 5.ゼロ魔16 6.俺妹3 7.とら・スピンオフ2 8.ゼロ魔17 9.香辛料10 10.禁書18 俺妹 is the the only light novel from Toranoana's top selling list that hasn't got an anime adaptation. Maybe we can expect one next year/the year after the next?
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Last edited by Doraneko; 2009-12-08 at 22:25. |
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2009-12-09, 02:51 | Link #314 | |
Pedestrian
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sweden
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Hrm, wish I could read faster. Even if it takes me a week to finish a book on average, I won't get through my bookshelf in under two years. And god knows how many new novels Nishio will release in that time, etc.
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I've read the first volume of おいしいコーヒーのいれ方 and while it's pleasant, it's probably the first time I've ever felt like the main character was unconvincing due to being a guy written by a woman. I'd imagine her writing gets better, though, considering she won the Naoki Prize later.
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2009-12-09, 03:53 | Link #315 | |||
The Owl of Minerva
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Some 2ch guys claim that they can finish one light novel in 20min . I can only read that fast if those books have already been translated into my mothertongue. Quote:
(Btw there is another official novelization which is far from being a bestseller. For anyone interested in ordering the novel, make sure you have checked the name of the publisher and author carefully.) Quote:
Her works usually deal with dark but real issues faced by young girls, and it is common to see scenarios of abuse and murder. The only bad thing them is that after she got famous as a Naoki prize winner, all her previous light novels except Gosick are rereleased as boring bunko books with all illustrations stripped away . For starters, I would recommend A Lolipop or A Bullet (砂糖菓子の弾丸は撃ちぬけない). Get the original version with illustrations if you can. It is part of the appeal of the book to see those saccharinely moe girls fallen into the abyss of abuse, darkness and total helplessness.
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2009-12-09, 04:09 | Link #316 | ||
Pedestrian
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sweden
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Lollypop was very good, and I'll try to get a hold of her award-winning book eventually. I disagree with it needing illustrations, though. It really doesn't feel like a book that should have pictures. Spoiler for Lollypop 'review' from a mail conversation I had (with SPOILERS):
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2009-12-09, 22:51 | Link #317 | |
The Owl of Minerva
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Also, remember that it was not easy for light novel writers to switch to the general literature industry, given the prejudice towards light novels in Japan (kind of like anime) by the literature elites and the public. That is why Sakuraba had to work within the limitations (i.e. publish in light novel format with illustrations randomly planted by the editors) even if she attempted to break out of them. Lolypop not only drastically changed her career, but also helped to improve the perception of the general public towards light novels. It also gave a whack to the light novel publishers and let them realize the need to expand the genre instead of staying in the comfort zone. If Lolypop didn't exist or was just published by a traditional publisher, I highly doubt that you would be able to see dark and non-conventional works like Mimizuku and Sugar Dark being ever published, let alone securing major light novel awards. The original version with sugary drawings let you feel the conflicts in the industry beyond the story, and appreciate its value as a milestone in the modern development of light novels. The new version is simply a good story among thousands published, memorable but nothing beyond that. As for manga, it's variety in terms of topics is as wide as books and movies. There is no reason to ridicule a manga before even reading it by simply asserting that it is dealing with a wrong genre, given that there are good manga on Kani-kousen, quantum physics and any Greek mythological tragedy. Dark themes on abuse is by no means a rarity in the manga industry. The manga of Lolypop is certainly not a masterpiece that everyone on earth should read, but at least it has done a good job in retaining the atmosphere and emotions in the novel. The character design is also less sugary and easier for the readers to feel attached to. The overwhelmingly positive reviews of the manga to a certain extent reflects its quality. I haven't read Gosick though, so no comment on that. But I find the afterwords of every book highly amusing (Sakuraba can make a novel out of them and I will gladly buy it, seriously). My advice to everyone interested in Gosick is to go to your local bookshop, skip the content and read the afterwords only.
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Last edited by Doraneko; 2009-12-09 at 23:02. |
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2009-12-14, 00:14 | Link #318 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Have you guys read アクセル・ワールド?
Something about this novel's quite special. I would imagine it is not for everyone. Spoiler for minor spoiler:
I haven't got this euphoria reading/watching a story for a while. I hope either this or SAO gets an anime =(. Quote:
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2009-12-15, 12:14 | Link #319 |
Pedestrian
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sweden
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Sugar Dark's not selling that much, despite the award publicity. Two weeks after release it's gotten up to 18290 books sold. Popular titles usually sell ~50k the first week.
Still waiting for mine to arrive.
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2009-12-15, 12:34 | Link #320 | ||
The Owl of Minerva
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Though not exactly on topic, today I stumbled across an interesting discussion on the low status of light novels in Japan and the differences between normal literature and light novels. There is also a scholarly essay quoted (just replace 通俗小説 with ライトノベル ) and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the issue.
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